Dean mulls run at Pombo

A University of the Pacific dean said Wednesday she will raise money and stump while mulling a campaign to oust Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, in next year's election.

David Siders

STOCKTON -- A University of the Pacific dean said Wednesday she will raise money and stump while mulling a campaign to oust Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, in next year's election.

Margee Ensign, dean of Pacific's School of International Studies, said she would form an exploratory committee, gauging support for her candidacy before deciding to officially enter the race. She plans to formally announce the committee at a lecture today before a class at Diablo Valley College in the East Bay.

An Ensign campaign would set up a three-way Democratic primary in June between Ensign, Pleasanton mathematician Jerry McNerney and Danville airline pilot Steve Filson.

Filson, who is the choice of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, could not be reached for comment Wednesday; McNerney said he welcomed Ensign to the race.

Democrats have targeted Pombo, chairman of the House Resources Committee, since 2004 when he drubbed McNerney, who started the campaign as a write-in candidate. State Sen. Michael Machado, D-Linden, and Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews, D-Tracy, have declined to run against Pombo in the Republican-leaning 11th District, which spans most of San Joaquin County and parts of Contra Costa, Alameda, and Santa Clara counties. Any serious bid to unseat Pombo would likely cost millions of dollars.

"It's going to be a very expensive race," Ensign said.

David Burr, chairman of the San Joaquin County Democratic Central Committee, said the number of Democratic candidates in the field is healthy for the party, and he said the party's enthusiasm is evidence it could beat Pombo in the 11th District, which spans most of San Joaquin County and parts of Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties.

John Edwards, chairman of the county's Republican Central Committee, said the wide field is evidence the Democrats are divided. He said none of the candidates have the credibility to beat Pombo.

Ensign writes an occasional column for The Record, whose editors decided to cease publication of the column while she mulls her candidacy.

Contact reporter David Siders at 209 943-8580 or dsiders@recordnet.com